Railway gate



Feb. 8, i927.

J. M. COBROS RAILWAY GATE Filed Jan. 26, 1926 gme'ntdp 1616887- 1927' J. M. coBRosmummy GATE I Filed an; 26, 192e, 7 sheets sh'et 4 a r"! m g/Oi)? M 662 06 Feb. 8 1927.

J. M. COBRO'S RAILWAY GATE Filed Jan. 26, 1926 m w m g 0 5 I? \U 7 M 0 v a v .\Q\ J k M .J W K m Feb. 8,1927. 1,616,887

J. M. cosaos I RAILWAY (mm A Filed Jan. 26, 1926 'Tsheets-shet v A A 1,616,87 FFICE.

JOHN M. COBRGS, OF SHINNS'ION, WEST VIRGTNIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWENTY ONE-HUN- DREDTHS T JOHN THEIS, TEN PER CENT TO DOMENIK GARU'SO, AND TEN PER CENT TO JOSEPH CARUSO, ALL OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

RAILWAY GATE.

This invention relates to railway gates and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind wherein the gate arm swings in a horizontal path and wherein its movement into either open or closed position is under control of a train.

Another'object of the invention is toprovide a gate of this kind having a gate arm swinging in a horizontal path together with a train controlled operating circuit for swinging the gate in either direction and wherein means are provided for increasing the power of the gate arm when moved in one direction and when brought into contact with a hinderance or obstruction on the right of way, such as an automobile stalled on the track.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved railway gate whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In orderthat my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in top plan illustrating gates constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position, a second position of each of the gate arms being indicated by broken lines; a I 1 Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly'in section and partly in elevation of one of the gates and the operating means therefor;

Figure 3 is a view in top plan of the structure as illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line H of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is-a fragmentary View partly in section and partly in elevation-illustrating the mounting of the gate and diagrammatically illustrating a portion of thecircuits associated therewith; v

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary View in top plan of the operating mechanism for a gate arm;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detailed sec tional view illustrating means for normally malntaining separated or opened the contacts carried by a gate arm; t

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the operating circuits for the motor associated with a gate arm;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 illustrating certain of the circuit closersin a second position; 1

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view showing anassembly or arrangement whereby the requisite operation of the gates willbe effected upontravel of a train in either direction; Flgure 121s a view in top plan illustratmg the gates moving into closed position with one of the gates in contact with a vehlcle which has stopped upon the right of way; with a train approaching;

Figure 13 is a View similar to Figure 12 but showing the gates in full closed position with a vehicle moved from the right of way and the train crossing the highway.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawmgs, a gate arm 1 is mounted upon the upper po rt1o n of a vertically directed shaft 2 for swinging movement in a horizontal directlon. The lower portion of the shaft 2 is disposed through, an upstanding tubular post or support 3 with the lower portion of sald shaft extending within a housing 4 illustrated in Figure 2 as being substantially below the ground level. The portion of the shaft 2 within the housing 4 has fixed thereto a gear 5 meshing with a pinion 6 carried by a horizontally directed shaft 7. Thisshaft 7 is rotatably supported by a bearing 8 arranged within the housing 4 and carries a gear 9 meshing with a second gear 10. This second gear 10 is carried by a shaft 11 arranged in parallelism with the shaft 7 and rotatably supported by the bearings 12 and 14 suitably arranged within the housing 4:. The shaft 7 also carries a worm wheel 15 meshing with the worm shaft 16 supported by the bearing 17. This shaft 16 is in driven connection through the chain 18.with the motor M of an electrical type. -Upon rotation of the motor shaft 19 in one direction the gate arm 1 will be moved from open position to closed position with respect to the roadway or kindred crossover and upon rotation in theoppos'ite direction will move said gate arm into closed posinally disposer tion. As illustrated in Figure l, the gate arm when in closed position extends across a track '1 and when in full open position across the highway H.

The gate arm '1 is preferably at a height above the'highway to have effective contact with the front end of the body otan automobile-or kindred vehicle so that when the gate ismoving from closed to open position and an automobile or the like may be stalled on the track it will have requisite contact with such vehicle to force the same to one side of the track T vas will be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

Depending from the ate arml at predetermined points spaced longitudinally thereof are the arms 20 to the lower portions of which are connected the longitudinally cirected strip 21 of a material conductive of electricity said strip 21 serving as a contact member. Over-lying the arms 20 and of a length, substantially co-entensive with the length of the arm 1 is a plate 22 to the un- 'der surface of which is secured a longitudii strip 23 also conductive of electricity and constituting a'movable contact for coaction with the strip or contact 21. The-contactszZl and 23 are normally maintained separated by one or more springs 24 interposed between an arr 20 and the plate 22, each of said springs 2d encircling a bolt 25 freely directed through such arm 20 and plate 22.

Extending along each track T and leading from a suitable source 0t electrical energy are the main lines a and b and at a desired distance at each side of the highway and extending along the track T are the contact rails 26 and 26. The line-a is'in electrical connection through the conductor 0 or a with a'rail of thetrachway at each side'of the highway or crossover. ihe contact rail 26-is in electrical connection with the motor 'M through the conductor d and with the 'contact'rail 26 through the conductor cl. interposed in the conductor d in advance of the motor M is the resistance 27. The conductor (Z is inelectrical connection with "the line 5 through the conductor 6 con nected withthe conductor (Z outwardly of the resistance 27. The motor is also adapted for electrical connection with the line I) through the second conductor 6. Interposed in the conductor 0 is a stationary contact 28 and amovable contact 29 and interposed in the conductor a is stationary contact '28" and the movable contact 29.

These contacts 28, 28, 29 and 29 are arranged at theouter end portion of the gate arm 1 and the associatedconductors e and e" are properlyccnnected therewith as indicated in Figure 5;

The movable contacts 29 and'29 are carrled'by the opposite end portions of a rock "lever BO-so that when the contact member 29 is in electrical connection with the contact'28 the contact member 29 is separated from thecontact 28 and vice versa.

The central or pivoted portionott' the rock lever 30 is provided with the oppositely di rected arms S'lo'ne of which is adapted for contact with an upstanding post 32 when the gate is in :tullopen position for automatically reversing the contact members 29 and 29 while the second arm 31 contacts with a similar post 32 when the gate is in full closed position.

As the train approaches the highway or I crossover suitable contact will be hadjwlith the'rail 26,as diagrammatically indicated at 33 in Figure 9, closing the circuittrom a through d and the resistance 27 to the motor andto the line b through the conductor 6 causing the gate arm to swing to full closed position at a relatively slow speed ano with a sun'icient amperage to effect the desired movement of the gate arm 1. As is illustrated in Figure 9 the desired engagement is had with the rail 26 bya conventional rotating shoe :0 suitably carried by the locomotive or other rolling stock generally indicated by the wheel 3 In the event there should be an automobile or the like stalled on the adjacent track or other undue obstruct-ion, theengagement of the contacts 21 and 23 will cause the current to flow with increased amperage from the conductor at through the conductor fbridging the resistance 27' thereby increasing'the power of the motor and to an extent suificientto-cause the gate arm 1 in its continued'movementto "force such obstruction off of the track. when such obstruction has been-removed and is free from the plate 22, the-contact members 21 and 23 willautomatically sepa rate. '7

When the gate arm 1 has reached its full closed position, contact ofan arm 31 with a post 32 will reverse the setting of the Contact members 29 and '29 and thereby breaking the iiow through the circuit ljust defined. After the train has passed a desired distance beyond the highway or crossover, the circuit will then be closed from the contact-rail26, conductor d to the motor and front the motor through the conductor d and the conductor e to the line b resultingin -a reverse cuit is only illustrated for a train moving on a track T in one direction. ln order to lit) effect the desired operation of the gate arm upon a train moving on the track in the op posite direction a second motor may be employed with separate circuits similar to those just recited but reversely arranged as is believed to be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates.

The arms 20 hereinbefore referred to may be mounted or attached to the gate arm 1 but as particularly illustrated in Figure 4:, I find it of advantage to employ in connection with each of the arms 20 a reinforcing or bracing arm 34. r V V 7 As is particularly illustrated in Figure 5, it is to be noted that the requisite maintenance of that portion of the circuit or conductors carried by the gate arm 1 is maintained by a contact member carried by the hub portion 36 of the gate arm 1 and constantly in contact with the circular contact member 37 carried by the upper portion of the post or support 3. 7

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a railway gateconstructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not mated with the motor for wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim l. A crossing gate comprising, in combination, a gate arm supported for swinging movement in a horizontal direction, a motor coacting with said gate arm for swinging the same, a circuit associated with the motor for operating themotor to swing the gate arm in one direction, a second circuit assocausing the motor to operate when the circuit is closed to swing the gate arm in the opposite direction, and

means operating upon undue resista'ncebeing offered to the gate of the motor circuits.

2. A crossing gate comprising, in combination, a gate arm, means for supporting said arm for swinging movement in a horizontal direction, means for operating the gate arm, and means for power of said operating means for the arm when said arm in its movement in one direction is brought into contact with an obstruction. v

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN M. COBROS.

to increase the amperage through one of the operating increasing the v 

